of church authority; but then here is a contradiction
to the former position, that made the particular congregation
the first subject of all power. And though apostles
and elders be the first subject of authority, yet,
when the keys were first committed to them, they were
not in relation to any particular church, but to the
general. 6. Finally, that both elders and brethren,
walking and joining together in truth and peace, are
the first subjects of all church power, is liable
also to exception. For this joins the brethren
(who indeed have no authoritative power at all) with
the elders, as the joint subject of all power.
And this but allowed to them walking and joining together
in truth and peace: but what if the major part
of the Church prove heretical, and so walk not in
truth; or schismatical, and so walk not in peace,
shall the elders and the non-offending party lose all
their power? Where then shall that independent
church find healing? for appeals to presbyteries and
synods are counted apocryphal by them. But enough
hath been said to detect the vanity of these new dreams
and notions; it is a bad sore that must be wrapped
in so many clouts.[43]

CHAPTER XI.

Of the proper Receptacle, or immediate subject
of the Power of Church Government: affirmatively,
what it is, viz. Christ’s own Officers.

Thus the proper receptacle or subject of ecclesiastical
power hath been considered negatively, what it is
not, viz: not the political magistrate, nor yet
the community of the faithful, or body of the people,
with or without their eldership. Now this receptacle
of power comes to be evidenced affirmatively, what
it is, viz. (according to the express words of
the description of government,) Christ’s own
officers. This is the last branch of the description,
the divine right whereof remains to be cleared; which
may most satisfactorily be done by evidencing these
three things, viz: 1. That Jesus Christ our
Mediator hath certain peculiar church guides and officers
which he hath erected in his Church. 2. That
Jesus Christ our Mediator hath especially intrusted
his own officers with the government of his Church.
3. How, or in what sense the ruling officers
are intrusted with this government, severally or jointly?

SECTION I.

1. Of the Divine Right of Christ’s Church
Officers, viz. Pastors and Teachers, with Ruling
Elders.

Touching the first, that Christ hath certain peculiar
church guides and officers, which he hath erected
in his Church. Take it thus:

Jesus Christ our Mediator hath ordained and set in
his Church (besides the apostles and other extraordinary
officers that are now ceased) pastors and teachers,
as also ruling elders, as the subject of the keys
for all ordinary ecclesiastical administrations.
The divine right of these ordinary church officers
may appear as followeth: